Filter arrangement and a method for its manufacture

Abstract

A filter arrangement made up of an accordion fold pack which is sealingly arranged in a housing. The housing is deep drawn in one piece from a polymeric material sheet. A limit stop is punched out of the base of the housing. A seal surrounds the accordion fold pack and seals against the housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A filter arrangement, comprising: 
       an accordion fold pack;  
       a seal directly in contact with and surrounding the entire height of the exterior side perimeter of the accordion fold pack; and  
       a housing, the accordion fold pack being arranged and sealed against the housing with the seal, the housing is deep drawn in one piece.  
     
     
       2. The filter arrangement of claim  1 , wherein: 
       the housing is made of a polymeric material.  
     
     
       3. The filter arrangement of claim  1  wherein the seal contacts the housing with elastic pre-stress in a sealing but non-adhesive manner. 
     
     
       4. The filter arrangement of claim  1 , wherein: 
       the housing includes a limit stop at an outlet end of the housing, the limit stop protruding towards an inside of the housing.  
     
     
       5. The filter arrangement of claim  1 , wherein: 
       the seal is made of a nonwoven fabric.  
     
     
       6. The filter arrangement of claim  1 , wherein: 
       the accordion fold pack is made of a nonwoven fabric.  
     
     
       7. The filter arrangement of claim  1 , wherein: 
       the accordion fold pack and the seal are adhesively joined.  
     
     
       8. A method for manufacturing a filter arrangement comprising: 
       deep-drawing a sheet of polymeric to produce a housing having essentially a pot-shaped cross section;  
       punching out a portion of a base of the housing to create a limit stop;  
       surrounding the entire height of the exterior side perimeter of an accordion fold pack with a seal directly in contact with the entire height of the exterior side perimeter of the accordion fold pack; and  
       inserting the accordion fold pack into the housing down to the limit stop.  
     
     
       9. The method of claim  8 , further comprising: 
       adhesively joining the accordion fold pack and the seal.  
     
     
       10. A method for replacing a filter arrangement in a housing having a limit stop comprising: 
       removing from the housing a first accordion fold pack having an exterior seal placed outside of and in direct contact with the entire height of the exterior side periphery of the first accordion fold pack; and,  
       inserting into the housing a second accordion fold pack having an exterior seal placed outside of and in direct contact with the entire height of the exterior side periphery of the second accordion fold pack.  
     
     
       11. The method of claim  10  wherein the exterior seal placed around the exterior periphery of the second accordion fold pack is adhesively joined to the exterior periphery of the second accordion fold pack. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim  10  wherein the exterior seal placed around the exterior periphery of the second accordion fold pack is made from a nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim  10  wherein the exterior seal placed around the exterior periphery of the second accordion fold pack contacts the housing with elastic pre-stress in a sealing but non-adhesive manner.